A so-called "bad" thing to be before, now and probably in the future. It's been somehow turned into an attack word. What people don't realize is that no kind of progress is made without even an ounce of liberalism in your blood. Civil rights movement? Liberal from MLK Jr. Free speech/checks and balances/etc.? Liberal idea from Enlightenment thinkers. Any kind of new technology? Liberal in the sense that you want to change the existing conditions. Face it. Any kind of change, whether good or bad, is promoted by liberalism.

U.S.
Pejorative and dismissive term used by self titled patriots to collectively refer to all that is wrong with the world and any individual or group who does not agree with them.
Uses:
1). Euphemism: frequently applied in instances where the user would prefer to use more derogative racial, religious and class slurs but is afraid to reveal their true beliefs publicly.
2). Political: Applied to all opposing belief systems that do not priorly qualify for inclusion under the definition of pure evil. (See: Other Nations).
3). Religious: applied to groups or individuals that do not demonstratively subscribe to any or all of the holy trinity or Guns, Gold and God. (Refer: Godless Liberals).
4). Education: Applied to anyone who uses words such as demonstratively (Refer: Educated Liberal Elite).
5). Civil rights: Applied to anyone or organisation seeking to restrict the inalienable conservative right to discriminate against, deny liberty to or restrict personal freedoms of those they don’t like, disagree with or fear. (Hist: Afro Americans, Mexicans, Homosexuals).

Rest of World (See: Unamerican)
Liberal: Noun: Individual of liberal views.
Origin Middle English via old French (see: pure evil) from Latin Liberalis, from Liber meaning Free (man).
Mass Noun: Liberality: open to new ideas and free from prejudice.
Verb: Liberalise: Loosen or remove restrictions on a society, economy or political system.
Adjective: Broaden general knowledge; Generous measure or distribution.

Technically, Liberalism is at the center of the political spectrum. In UK politics, this position is championed by the Liberal Democrat Party. However, in the US, 'Liberal' is often used to describe members of the Democratic Party, despite the Democratic Party occupying the socialist area of the spectrum, much like the Labour Party.

UK:
Jack: Which party do you support?
John: Lib Dem.
Jack: So you're a Liberal?
John: Yep.

US:
Jack: Which party do you support?
John: Democrat.
Jack: So you're a Liberal?
John: No, I'm a socialist.